Blade sharpener



Jan. 8, 1946. w s v 2,392,784

- BLADE SHARPENER Filed Dec. 29, 1944 INVENTOR. Walter Sir'uuc ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,392,784 BLADE SHARPENER Walter Struve, Mineola, N. Y.

Application December 29, 1944, Serial No. 570,367

1 Claim.

This invention relates to razor blade strops of the rotary type.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a rotary razor blade strop which is of the simplest construction which may be made to sell for a nominal sum and which may be used by the general public without priorinstruction or practice.

Another object is to provide a rotary razor blade strop which comprises but three parts-a frame, a roller and a crankthe crank and roller being readily removable from the frame for cleaning purposes.

A further object is the provision of a rotary razor blade strop of the character described, having a crank which may be rotated on an axis which intersects the longitudinal axis of the roller in order to enable the crank to assume a nonprojecting position against the side of the frame when the device is not being used.

Still another object is the provision of a rotary razor blade strop of the character described in which the roller comprises a unitary member which possesses abrasive properties not only on its surface but throughout.

These and other objects are attained by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing inwhich- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled device showing a razor blade mounted on the 30 platform of the device in stropping position against the roller;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectionof the device shown in Fig, 1 showing how the finger of the operator rests against the side of the blade during the stropping operation; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of thedevice shown in Fig. 1 on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the rotary razor blade strop herein claimed comprises a unitary frame II] which is boxlike in shape and which has two upwardly extending flanges or shoulders ll formed at its two end portions. These flanges serve as guides for the razor blade which is supported, during the stropping operation, on that portion of the frame. which lies between said flanges, which portion will hereinafter be referred to as the blade supporting platform I2 of the device. A longitudinal extending hole I3 is formed adjacent one of the upper side edges of said frame, extending through the two flanges H and the blade supporting platform l2. It will be seen in the drawing that said hole takes the form of a concave groove or trough in the platform proper between the two flanges.

The roller 14 comprises a unitary member which is adapted to be rotatably mounted within hole l3. It will be seen inFig. 3 that the length ofn .the roller extends the length of the frame and that it projects outwardly at both ends of the frame. A unitary crank I5, which is simply an L-shaped member, circular in cross section, is rotatably carried by the roller at one projecting end thereof, an enlarged head portion It on said crank prevents removal thereof from the roller. It will be observed that in view of the circular cross sectional shape of said crank, it is possible to rotate or pivot said crank on an axi which intersects the longitudinal axis of the roller at right angles. This renders it possible to fold the crank against the end portion of the frame when the device is not in use.

It will be observed, too, that the roller is readily removable from the frame by the simple expedient of withdrawing it axially from hole l3 in which it is normally disposed.

To use the device, the blade is placed upon its platform between flanges II as shown in Fig. 1. The edge of the blade to be sharpened is placed against the surface of the roller, pressure contact therewith being maintained by the finger resting against the blade and gently urging it in the direction of the roller. It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the angle at which the platform meets the roller is predetermined to provide the proper angular relationship between the blade mounted on said platform, and the roller for proper stropping operation. The blade edge is sharpened by simply turning the crank handle and thereby rotating the roller with which said edge is in contact.

It is intended that the frame be made of a unitary piece of material such as plastic material,

molded to the shape shown and described. Any.

other suitable material, such as wood, may also be used. The roller should be made of a unitary piece of leather. Such leather is available on the open market in normal times in the form of sewing machine belting having a circular cross sectional shape. It has all of the desirable abrasive properties. The crank is intended to be made.of a unitary piece of metal wire. Plastic may also be used. c

It is clear from the foregoing that the present invention is practical in all respects, being inexpensive to make, compact, simple to use and easy to clean.

Iclaim:

A rotary razor blade strop comprising a blade supporting platform, upwardly extending flanges cross section throughout and bein rotatably' mounted within said flange holes and said groove,

and a crank affixed to one end of said roller for rotating the same, said crank being pivotally fixed in said roller on a axis which intersects the longitudinal axis of the roller at right anglesrto enable said crank to assume a non-projecting position against the platform when the strop' is not in use.

WALTER STRUVE. 

